Shaun Reagan Ready to Bring Waterloo into the Playoffs

With Shaun Reagan entering his second season as head coach of the Waterloo Warriors (competing in the OUA conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport), he is ready to start a winning tradition on this up-and-coming team.

In his first campaign with the Warriors, he logged a 10-11-5 record while narrowly missing the postseason. This was a vast improvement on the Warriors' 2010-11 season. Led by Winter Olympic Games gold medalist Geraldine Heaney as head coach, the Warriors logged a 4-22-1 record, while ending the season on an eight-game losing streak.

For his efforts, Reagan was named the OUA women’s hockey Coach of the Year, while the University of Waterloo recognized him as Coach of the Year among all varsity sports.

The humble Reagan was quick to recognize his mentors.

“I have also been mentored by Kitchener Rangers (OHL) coaching staff members throughout the years, including Peter Deboer, Steve Spott, and Troy Smith.  They have and still help in my development as a coach.”

The 15-point improvement placed Waterloo in a tie for the final playoff spot in the OUA. The Warriors were outdone in a tiebreaker with the Brock Badgers, who accumulated more wins.

Reagan is looking to capitalize on the Warriors' success to help them gain their first postseason berth in over five years.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs this season and compete for the OUA Championship.”

A former player in the Ontario Hockey League, Reagan was also selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1982 NHL Draft.

“The NHL draft did not come with the fanfare as it does today.  I did not know I was drafted to the Wings until they called me the next day.”

Of the two teams that Reagan competed with in the OHL, his first was the Brantford Alexanders. During his two years with the club, he was coached by Bep Guidolin (former Boston Bruins coach) and Dave Draper.

“Dave Draper was an excellent coach.  He was a tactician and understood players on an individual level.” 

From Brantford, Reagan moved on to the Windsor Spitfires. His teammates included future Toronto Maple Leafs player Todd Gill and Keith Gretzky (younger brother of Wayne).

“There are many great stories about playing with Keith Gretzky but what stood out most was one day at practice Wayne, Dave Semenko, and Ken Linseman (his brother Steve also played in Brantford at the time) showed up to take in a practice and meet the boys after.”

His first experience in women’s hockey was with the Waterloo Ravens.

“My start in female coaching was with the Waterloo Ravens Girls’ Minor Hockey Association.  I coached a novice girls' team 10 years ago...and here I am today making a career out of coaching female hockey.”

Prior to joining Waterloo, Reagan was the first-ever head coach of the Kitchener-Waterloo Rangers of the PWHL (a junior women’s hockey league in Ontario).

After one year with Waterloo, Reagan noticed a significant difference compared to the PWHL.

“Apart from the age difference, the schedule is much different in the OUA.  We play a 26-game regular schedule with a maximum of six exhibition games.  In the PW we would play 60 or 70 games per season.  In the OUA there is a greater focus on practices as we are on the ice every day.”

The one aspect that remains the same at Waterloo, like in the PWHL, is the importance of recruiting.

“Recruiting is critical to success with any University program.  Our staff developed a four-year recruiting plan last season and we are currently in year two.  This season we have 14 new faces in our lineup and 12 true freshmen.  We have addressed our team speed, skill and compete-level with our recruits.” 

Among the new recruits, four of them are: Siobhan Hewitt-Kenda, Bailey Bradt, Rebecca Rutherford and Allie Mitchell.

From Vancouver, Hewitt-Kenda will be counted upon to add a new dimension to the Warriors' offense. The captain of the Pacific Steelers in the Junior Women’s Hockey League, she participated in the JWHL All-Star game. Bailey Bradt, from Ilderton, Ontario, Canada participated with the London Devilettes of the PWHL and should bolster the blue line for many seasons to come.

Rebecca Rutherford is one of four Durham West (PWHL) players who were recruited to the Warriors. The left winger will be counted upon to provide problems for opposing defenders with her blazing speed. Goaltender Allie Mitchell competed in the North American Prep Hockey Association and will take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of All-Canadian goaltender Rebecca Bouwhuis.

Mitchell and Bouwhuis benefit from having an accomplished goaltender on Reagan’s coaching staff. Assistant coach Jenni Bauer had a storied career with the now-defunct Niagara Purple Eagles of College Hockey America (competing at NCAA Division I). Bauer was a CHA First Team selection in 2010 and 2011, while being nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award (the NCAA women’s hockey equivalent of the Heisman Trophy).

Reagan is also assisted by Ken Lubert, a physical education teacher and former Canadian collegiate football player. Lubert has helped many junior teams win medals at OWHA play and is reputed for being a great motivator. Rounding out Reagan’s staff is Bob Hicks, who helps with recruiting.

This November, Reagan will be on the coaching staff for Team Ontario at the U18 National Championships.

“It's extremely rewarding to be a part of the Team Ontario coaching staff. To work with outstanding coaches and players has and will make me a better coach. I am thankful to the OWHA for selecting me as part of the staff this year.”

Before the regular season can begin, the Warriors will go on a three-game exhibition tour of QSSF clubs. Said clubs include the Carleton Ravens, Ottawa Gee Gees, and the nationally-ranked Montreal Carabins. While the tour will surely be a litmus test of how far the Warriors have come, there is no question that the club will bring high energy and drive to the ice.

“It is exciting times for the Warriors.”

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise indicated.